Azerbaijan ignores ceasefire to begin new offensive in Karabakh

PanARMENIAN.Net - Azerbaijan launched an offensive on the Nagorno-Karabakh line of contact at 12:05 pm Saturday, October 10, although a humanitarian ceasefire was supposed to enter into effect at 12:00 pm, Armenian Defense Ministry spokeswoman Shushan Stepanyan said on Facebook.

"The units of the Artsakh Defense Army are taking measures to stop the enemy's attack," Stepanyan added.

Stepanyan reported earlier that the Karabakh Defense Army had been ordered to cease the fire in the conflict zone

Minutes before the ceasefire was set to come into effect, the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan launched drone strikes, using a large number of UAV's. Also Saturday, the Azerbaijani military struck the residential areas of Karabakh's capital Stepanakert with missiles, launched a drone strike near Yeritsvank community of Karabakh (Artakh), as well as the Artsvanik settlement near Kapan, Armenia.

Azerbaijan, with help from Turkey, launched a large-scale offensive against Karabakh (Artsakh) in the morning of September 27, shelling Armenian positions and civilian settlements with large caliber weapons and rocket systems. Armenia and Karabakh have introduced martial law and total mobilization. The Armenian side has reported deaths and injuries both among the civilian population and the military. International and local journalists too have been injured in Azeri shelling of towns and villages, as well as the iconic Ghazanchetsots Cathedral in Shushi. A humanitarian ceasefire has been agreed upon beginning from midday, October 10